Jamaica, VA – Forty of the regions top late model drivers rode into town looking to take home the $2000 top prize in the Cline Construction Steel Block Bandits sanctioned Revere Gas Firecracker 30 presented by Aaron’s at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway and it was Virginia Motor Speedway rookie Matt Marshall of Stuarts Draft, VA holding home court and picking up his career first late model victory.

The win didn’t come easy as Marshall had to fend off the advances of Scott Adams for much of the first half of the race and then held off Andy Fries over the final five laps, the last time out of turn 4 coming to the checkers.

It all began with six laps to go as Fries looked inside Marshall out of turn 4 with Marshall holding the lead by inches at the line. Each time in turn 2 Marshall would gain a car length and in turn 4 Fries would pull up beside him. The races final caution would come out on lap 29 setting up a one lap shootout. On the restart Marshall pulled two car lengths on Fries and the rest of the field. As the leaders headed into turn 3 Fries closed the gap and got under Marshall out of turn 4 heading to the checkers with Marshall taking the win by.100 second at the line.

“This is absolutely amazing to get my first late model race in such a big event. The car worked so well, I learned a lot tonight running up on the cushion,” commented Marshall in victory lane.

Rounding out the top five were Andy Fries, Sommey Lacey, Kyle Merkel and Walker Arthur. Heat race wins went to Scott Adams, Matt Marshall, Kyle Merkel and Andy Fries. B Main win went to Junior Carter.

In other action Brian Maxey of King George, VA picked up his third win of the season in the Budweiser Modifieds holding off Dan Arnold on the final lap. In the Truckin Thunder Sportsman Roger Jamerson of Mechanicsville, VA dove under the spinning leaders in turn 4 to pick up the victory and in the Collision One Limited Stock Car 20 lap feature Ryan Toole held off the challenges of Joe Ender to take his second victory of the 2010 season.
Virginia Motor Speedway regulars Scott Adams and Matt Marshall led the field to green with Marshall gaining control from the outside to lead the opening lap of the Revere Gas Firecracker 30 presented by Aaron’s. On the next circuit Adams dove inside Marshall out of turn 4 with Marshall holding on to the lead by inches at the line. The two raced side by side until caution came out for an altercation in turn two.

On the restart David Williams worked his way inside Kyle Merkel for the fourth. Williams wasn’t done as he quickly took over the third spot from Andy Fries on the next circuit. Caution would come out once again on lap 6 for a spin by Tom Cohick that collected four other competitors.

On the restart Merkel went to the high side to take back the third spot from Williams. Williams would rally to take back the spot but his night would come to an end with mechanicals woes on lap 12. On lap 15 Walker Arthur worked passed Merkel for fourth.

By lap 18 Marshall began to work heavy traffic with Adams and Fries battling for second behind him. On lap 18 Adams had dispatched of Fries and began closing in on Marshall. On lap 22 the races third caution came out for a spin in turn 2. On the restart Fries took over second from Adams in turn 3 with Merkel following to third.

On lap 24 Fries began to pressure Marshall for the lead taking a peak to his inside as the two raced out fo turn 4. Over the next five laps Marshall would gain in turn two with Fries pulling back to his inside out of turn four. On lap 29 with Marshall two cars lengths ahead of Fries and looking for the checkers caution came out for a three car accident in turn 4. That set up a one lap shootout for the win.

On the restart Marshall pulled ahead by two car lengths but that advantage disappeared in turn 3 as Fries pulled to Marshall’s inside. As the exited out turn four the tow were side by side with Marshall nipping Fries at the line by .100 of a second picking up the biggest race of his career. Behind the battle for the victory was a battle to take third between Merkel and Sommey Lacey with lacey taking the spot by inches at the line.

In the Truckin Thunder Sportsman 25 lap feature Tim Shelton and Tony Wood led the field to green with Wood leading the first circuit. Wood looked in control for most of the event with Todd Traylor chasing him in second. Traylor made several attempts to get under Wood with no success as Roger Jamerson and Michael Roop battled behind them for third. On the last lap Traylor dove under Wood heading into turn 3 with the two making contact sending both spinning allowing Jamerson to get by an go on for the victory. Rounding out the top five were Michael Roop, Davey Pullen, Todd Traylor and J.R. Guy.

In the Budweiser Modified 25 lap feature Brian Maxey and Charlie Hubbard led the field to green with Maxey leading the first circuit. Maxey pulled away from the field as Dan Arnold worked his way to second and began to chase down the leader.

On lap 14 Charlie Hubbard and Joey Polevoy battled for fifth as the leaders raced nose to tail. With battles all through the field Arnold kept pace with Maxey on each caution flag. The final caution came out with two to go. On the restart Arnold drove hard under Maxey in turn two but couldn’t make the pass and fell back two car lengths as Maxey went on to take his second win in a row and third of the season. Rounding out the top five were Dan Arnold, Page Harrison, Joey Polevoy and Lance Grady. Chris Arnold picked up the Pitts Lumber Rookie of the Race Award with a ninth place finish.

In the Collision One Limited Stock Car 20 lap feature Kevin Fletcher and Ryan Toole led the field to the green with Toole leading the first lap. Toole paced the field with Joe Ender, Fletcher, Marty Coaltrain and Bret Adkins all in tow.

Several cautions closed the field on Toole’s bumper but he was up to the challenge each time on each restart. Ender took one more shot at Toole on the final restart but couldn’t make the pass. Toole would go on to record his second win of the season. Rounding out the top five were Joe Ender, Kevin Fletcher, marty Coltrain and John Hankins Jr.

Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway will host Budweiser / WIGO Night at the Races next Saturday July 24th. All four Virginia Army National Guard Dirt Series divisions will be in action featuring the Victory Lap Late Models, Truckin Thunder Sportsman, Budweiser Modified, Collision One Limited Stock Car divisions.

The night’s activities will also include the Truckin Thunder Sportsman, Budweiser Modifieds and the Collision One Limited Stock Cars in action.

Competitor gates for Saturday, July 24th will open at 3pm with spectator gates opening at 4pm. On track activities will begin at 6:30pm with hot laps. Divisions scheduled to race on Saturday July 24th: Victory Lap Late Models (35 Laps); Truckin Thunder Sportsman (25 Laps); Budweiser Modifieds (25 Laps); and the Collision One Limited Stock Cars (20 laps). All divisions will run Hot Lap Time Trials and Features.

Admission price for Adults $10, seniors $8; military $5, students 13 – 17 years old $7, children 7 to 12 years old $4 and children 6 and under admitted free.

To enhance the fans racing experience the speedway has installed a short wave FM transmitter and all of the evening’s action can be heard at 95.5 FM. So bring your portable radio headset and enjoy hearing all the action.

Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway, an ASA Member Track, is a ½ mile dirt oval track is located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads area.

To learn more about Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway fans may call the Speedway office at (804) 758-1VMS or visit the track’s web site at www.vamotorspeedway.com.